Drum type washing machine

ABSTRACT

A drum type washing machine is disclosed. The drum type washing machine includes a tub for holding wash water; a bearing housing laid in a rear wall of the tub, the bearing housing having a fastening groove part having a stator of a motor fastened thereto; and a contact-proof-part for preventing the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and a stator fastening part from being directly contacted with each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which can reduce noise generated by collision between a fastening groove part of a bearing housing and a stator fastening part by means of an improved structure of a tub.

This application claims the benefit of the Patent Korean Application No. 10-2005-0057736, filed on Jun. 30, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, more particularly, to a structure of a tub for a drum type washing machine.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In general, a drum type washing machine performs washing by using friction force between a drum rotated by a driving force of a motor and laundries, in a state where detergent, wash water and the laundry are mixedly loaded into a drum. The drum type washing machine has an effect of that the laundry may not be damaged, nor get entangled and another effect that the laundry may be washed as if it were scrubbed by human hands.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional drum type washing machine according to the related art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional drum type washing machine includes a body 1 having an laundry introduction opening formed in front thereof, a door 2 coupled to the laundry introduction opening, a tub 10 mounted within the body 1 for storing wash water therein, a motor 4 mounted in the tub 10 for generating driving force, a washing shaft 5 fastened to the motor 4, and a drum 6 mounted within the tub 10 by the washing shaft 5 for washing the laundry therein.

The tub 10 is supported by a damper 11 and a spring 23, and the damper 11 and the spring 23 dampen vibration generated in rotating the motor 4 and the drum 6.

The motor 4 includes a rotor 4 a and a stator 4 b.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a rear tub according to the conventional drum type washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an I-I line of FIG. 2 illustrating a state where a stator fastening part is fastened to the rear tub.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tub has a cylindrical shape having an opening formed in front thereof and is injection-molded with resin. Also, the tub allow the laundry introduced through the opening thereof.

The tub is classified into a front tub 13 (see FIG. 1) and a rear tub 14. the front tub 13 and the rear tub 14 are formed as one body by having a screw (not shown) fastened to a center of the tub,

The rear tub 14 includes a bearing housing 50 having the washing shaft 5 for rotating the drum supported thereto.

The bearing housing 50 includes a bearing supporting part 51 having a bearing (not shown) secured thereto, and a fastening groove part 53 formed in an outer circumference of the bearing supporting part 51 for fixing the stator 4 b thereto and having a female thread 53 b formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.

The bearing housing 50 is formed by aluminum die casting and fixed in a rear portion of the tub 10 by injection-molding. Thus, the rear portion of the tub 10 includes a projecting part 17 for covering an outer circumferential surface of the bearing supporting part 51 and a molding part 19 for covering an outer circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53.

However, the structure of the conventional tub, as described above, has following problems.

The structure of the conventional tub has a problem that the screw S fastening the stator fastening part 70 to the fastening groove part 53 may be getting loose due to vibration, because the vibration generated by the drum rotation is transmitted to the bearing housing 50.

In that case, there may be aperture between circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and a surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70. Thus, the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70 collide each other, thereby causing noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type washing machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine which can reduce noise generated by collision between a fastening groove part of a bearing housing and a stator fastening part by means of an improved structure of a tub.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drum type washing machine includes a tub for holding wash water; a bearing housing laid in a rear wall of the tub, the bearing housing having a fastening groove part having a stator of a motor fastened thereto; and a contact-proof-part for preventing the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and a stator fastening part from being directly contacted with each other.

Preferably, the contact-proof-part is provided between a circumferential end of the fastening groove part and the stator fastening part of the stator.

The contact-proof-part is formed in a shape which covers the circumferential end of the fastening groove part and an inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part.

Preferably, the contact-proof-part is formed as one body with a rear wall of the tub.

The stator is assembled as a fastening member is fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing through the stator fastening part.

At that time, a female thread is formed in the fasten groove part of the bearing housing for allowing the fastening member fastened thereto.

The fastening member may be a fastening screw fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing with forming the female thread itself.

The tub and the contact-proof-part are made of resin and the bearing housing is made of aluminum.

A metal mold guide part is further provided in the fastening groove part for allowing the contact-proof-part injection-molded smoothly, and the metal mold guide part is a guide groove formed at the circumferential end of the fastening groove part.

In another aspect of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes a tub for holding wash water; a bearing housing provided in a rear wall of the tub, the bearing housing having a fastening groove part having a stator of a motor fastened thereto; a molding part injection-molded in the rear wall of the tub for laying the bearing housing therein; and a contact-proof-part for preventing the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and a stator fastening part from being directly contacted with each other.

Preferably, the contact-proof-part is provided between a circumferential end of the fastening groove part and the stator fastening part of the stator.

The contact-proof-part is formed in a shape which covers the circumferential end of the fastening groove part and an inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part.

Preferably, the contact-proof-part is formed as one body with the molding part.

The stator may be assembled as a fastening member is fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing through the stator fastening part.

At that time, a female thread is formed in the fastening groove part of the bearing housing for allowing the fastening member fastened thereto.

The fastening member may be a fastening screw fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing with forming the female thread.

The molding part and the contact-proof-part are made of resin and the bearing housing is made of aluminum.

A metal mold guide part may be provided in the fastening groove part for allowing the molding part and the contact-proof-part injection-molded smoothly. Also, the metal mold guide part is a guide groove formed at the circumferential end of the fastening groove part.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional drum type washing machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially illustrating a structure of a conventional rear tub.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view partially illustrating an I-I line of FIG. 1, in which a stator fastening part is fixed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially illustrating a structure of a rear tub according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a bearing housing according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view partially illustrating an II-II line of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view partially illustrating a state where a metal mold guide part according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view partially illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a rear tub according to the present invention and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a bearing housing laid in a rear wall of the rear tub of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view partially illustrating an II-II line of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view partially illustrating a state where a metal mold guide part according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided. FIG. 8 is a sectional view partially illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a drum type washing machine according to the present invention includes a tub 10 mounted within a cabinet 1 for holding wash water therein and having a wall for fastening a driving part fastened thereto, a motor 4 mounted in the tub for generating a driving force, a drum 6 mounted within the tub 10, and a shaft 5 axially connected to the drum 6 for transmitting the driving force of the motor 4 to the drum 6.

The tub 10 has a cylindrical shape having an opening formed in front thereof and the tub 10 is injection-molded with resin, such that the laundry may be loaded/unloaded through the opening of the tub 10.

The tub 10 is supported by a damper 11 and a spring 11 for dampening vibration generated during the rotation of the drum 6 and the motor 4.

The motor 4 includes a rotor 4 a and a stator 4 b.

The tub 10 is classified into a front tub 13 (see FIG. 1) and a rear tub 14, and the rear tub 14 has a bearing housing 50 for supporting a washing shaft rotating the drum 6 (see FIG. 1) provided within the tub 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bearing housing 50 includes a bearing supporting part 51 for supporting a bearing in a sleeve shape, and a fastening groove part 53 having a female thread 53 b for fixing the stator 4 b (see FIG. 1) expanded from a rear end of the bearing supporting part 51 in a radius direction as one body with the bearing supporting part 51.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bearing housing 50 is fixed in a rear wall of the rear tub 14 by insert-molding. Thus, preferably, a projecting part 13 and a molding part 19 are formed in the rear wall of the tub 14. The projecting part 13 covers an outer circumferential surface of the bearing supporting part 51 and the molding part 19 covers an outer circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53.

The fastening groove part 53 is provided for fixing the stator 5 a to the rear wall of the rear tub 14. Since a stator fastening part 70 is fastened to the fastening groove part 53 by a screw S, the stator 4 b is fixed to the rear wall of the rear tub 14.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a contact-proof-part 100 is provided between an circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and a surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70, and prevents the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70 from being directly contacted with each other, while the stator fastening part 70 is fastened to the fastening groove part 53 by the screw S.

More specifically, if the fastening groove part 53 made of aluminum is fixed and contacted with the stator fastening part 70 made of iron, the screw S which fastens the above two may be getting loose due to the vibration generated during the operation of the drum type washing machine, thereby causing an aperture there between. Thus, the stator fastening part 70 and the fastening groove part 53 are collided to generate noise because of the aperture.

At that time, since the contact-proof-part 100 made of resin is provided between the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70, the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 is prevented from being directly contacted with the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70 by the contact-proof-part 100 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, since according to the embodiment of the present invention, the contact-proof-part 100 is provided between the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70, the contact-proof-part 100 is formed to cover the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53. At that time, it is preferred that the contact-proof-part 100 is formed as one body with the molding part 19.

According to the present invention, a metal mold guide part is further provided in the fastening groove part 53 for injection-molding the molding part 19 and the contact-proof-part 100 more smoothly. As shown in FIG. 7, the metal mold guide part is a guide groove 200 formed in the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53.

More specifically, in an injection-molding process where the outer surface of the fastening groove part 53 is covered by the molding part 19 and the contact-proof-part 100, the metal mold guide groove 200 is recessed in some part of the inner surface of the fastening groove part 53. Thus, the metal mold guide groove 200 is formed to make space for inserting a metal mold 500 which injection-molds the molding part 19 and the contact-proof-part 100 therein.

Accordingly, the metal guide groove 200 facilitates the molding part 19 and the contact-proof-part 100 to be formed more conveniently.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Although the embodiment of the present invention presents that the contact-proof-part 100 covers only the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53, the another embodiment of the present invention presents that the contact-proof-part 300 covers the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and an inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53, as shown in FIG. 7.

At that time, it is preferred that the contact-proof-part 300 is made of resin and formed as one body with the molding part 19.

Also, a female thread 300 a for screw-fastening may be formed in the inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53 which is covered by the contact-proof-part 300.

Although not shown in drawings, following presentation is possible. Without the female thread formed in the inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53, a tapping screw is fastened to the inner circumferential surface 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 with forming a female thread itself, in a process where the stator fastening part 70 is fastened to the fastening groove part 53 by using a tapping screw. That is possible, because the material which covers the inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part 53 is resin.

The above case has an advantageous effect that an additional work for forming the female thread in the fastening groove part 53 is unnecessary.

As described through above embodiments, the present invention may reduce noise which can be generated by collision between the circumferential end 53 a of the fastening groove part 53 and the surface 70 a of the stator fastening part 70, because the contact-proof-part 100 and 300 is formed between the fastening groove part 53 and the stator fastening part 70.

Therefore, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention has following advantageous effects.

First, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that the noise generated the collision between the fastening groove part and the stator, because the contact-proof-part is formed between the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and the stator fastening part of the stator.

Furthermore, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention has another advantageous effect that the contact-proof-part and the molding part are injection-molded more conveniently, because the metal mold guide groove is formed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a tub for holding wash water; a bearing housing laid in a rear wall of the tub, the bearing housing having a fastening groove part having a stator of a motor fastened thereto; and a contact-proof-part for preventing the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and a stator fastening part from being directly contacted with each other.
 2. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the contact-proof-part is provided between a circumferential end of the fastening groove part and the stator fastening part of the stator.
 3. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein the contact-proof-part is formed in a shape which covers the circumferential end of the fastening groove part and an inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part.
 4. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein the contact-proof-part is formed as one body with a rear wall of the tub.
 5. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein the stator is assembled as a fastening member is fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing through the stator fastening part.
 6. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein a female thread is formed in the fasten groove part of the bearing housing for allowing the fastening member fastened thereto.
 7. The drum type washing machine of 5, wherein the fastening member is a fastening screw fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing with forming the female thread itself.
 8. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein the tub and the contact-proof-part are made of resin and the bearing housing is made of aluminum.
 9. The drum type washing machine of 1, further comprising a metal mold guide part provided in the fastening groove part for allowing the contact-proof-part injection-molded smoothly.
 10. The drum type washing machine of 1, wherein the metal mold guide part is a guide groove formed at the circumferential end of the fastening groove part.
 11. A drum type washing machine comprising: a tub for holding wash water; a bearing housing provided in a rear wall of the tub, the bearing housing having a fastening groove part having a stator of a motor fastened thereto; a molding part injection-molded in the rear wall of the tub for laying the bearing housing therein; and a contact-proof-part for preventing the fastening groove part of the bearing housing and a stator fastening part from being directly contacted with each other.
 12. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein the contact-proof-part is provided between a circumferential end of the fastening groove part and the stator fastening part of the stator.
 13. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein the contact-proof-part is formed in a shape which covers the circumferential end of the fastening groove part and an inner circumferential surface of the fastening groove part.
 14. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein the contact-proof-part is formed as one body with the molding part.
 15. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein the stator is assembled as a fastening member is fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing through the stator fastening part.
 16. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, wherein a female thread is formed in the fastening groove part of the bearing housing for allowing the fastening member fastened thereto.
 17. The drum type washing machine of claim 15, wherein the fastening member is a fastening screw fastened to the fastening groove part of the bearing housing with forming the female thread.
 18. The drum type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the tub, the molding part and the contact-proof-part are made of resin and the bearing housing is made of aluminum.
 19. The drum type washing machine of claim 11, further comprising a metal mold guide part provided in the fastening groove part for allowing the molding part and the contact-proof-part injection-molded smoothly.
 20. The drum type washing machine of claim 19, wherein the metal mold guide part is a guide groove formed at the circumferential end of the fastening groove part. 